Intra-Abdominally Retained Knife Following Lower Thoracic Stab
Wound: A Potential Hazard
A Leppäniemi, MD
Corresponding address: Department of Surgery,
University of Helsinki, Meilahti Hospital, PO Box 340, Haartmaninkatu
4, FIN-00029 HUS, Finland
Abstract
A patient presenting with a left thoracic stab
wound causing pneumothorax and treated with a chest tube is presented.
A chest X-ray barely revealed the base of an unsuspected, completely
retained intra-abdominal knife. Although the elimination of routine
abdominal X-ray in the evaluation of patients with abdominal and
lower thoracic stab wounds has been recommended, attention should
be given to the fate of the stabbing implement and in unclear
cases plain X-ray should be obtained to detect completely retained
and potentially hazardous stabbing implements.
Key words
Stab wound, pneumothorax, intra-abdominal injury
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